Church of England Week in Westminster, 18th – 21st July 2016

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week bishops in the House of Lords spoke on the Government’s Policing and Crime Bill and Investigatory Powers Bill, the Carbon Budget and in debates on the wellbeing of children in Gaza and the impact of leaving the EU on UK agriculture. Questions were also asked about religious broadcasting and the BBC Charter, unaccompanied children in Calais, delays with single farm payments, rural housing and development on brownfield sites. Bishops also responded to a Government Statement about the political situation in Turkey. The new Bishop of Oxford took his seat in the Lords, following his translation from Sheffield. Parliament has now risen for the summer recess and will return on the 5th September.

The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, was on duty throughout the week, leading prayers in the Lords Chamber at the start of each sitting day.